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December 15, 2011

Shadowbox Banks (to save for something special)

My kids don't usually write up long or detailed wish lists for Santa. However, this year all three of them requested an iPod Touch for Christmas (after seeing several friends and cousins with them recently). Like most of us, though, Santa is on a budget this year. Even one iPod would be stretching it, so three iPods would be out of the question.

Luckily, Santa's elves had a very clever solution that I think will be the next best thing to an actual iPod under the tree. The elves shared with me what they did in their workshop and I really like the way they turned out.

Look at this smart solution...

Here's what the elves did:

(Excuse the fact that the pictures switch between the three different banks, those silly elves kept getting sidetracked during the photo-taking process)

1. Pick up a shadowbox frame (they used a 5x7" one) and make up a picture of the special something to save for (the elves got an iPod image from the Apple website and used Picnik to design the 5x7" picture)

By the way, did you know that Santa's elves
often pick up the supplies they need

at regular stores when they're closed for the night
and all the people and employees have left?

That's how the elves picked up these frames on sale at JoAnn's!

2. Cut out your picture to fit your shadowbox and cut a small opening for the money.

3. Line up your picture with the backing for the shadowbox (these were made out of foam board) and then cut a money slot in that as well.

4. The elves thought these banks might be able to used to save for other special items in the future, so they just put a little bit of glue around the money slot to adhere the picture to the backing. This way, once they've saved for their iPods, the kids can simply replace the picture and start saving for something else.

5. That's it! Put it all together and your shadowbox bank is ready to go!

Just put your money in from the back...

... and with each deposit, you're one step closer to buying that something special!

Santa's elves told me that each frame was only $4 on sale and Santa said he would probably put $10 in change and bills in each bank to start the kids on their way. Santa's accountants were very happy that he was spending $42 instead of $600+ and I think the kids will learn a valuable lesson about saving for the things they want most!

I love this smart idea and also like to read beautiful content of this blog. It’s really amazing. Thanks for sharing here steps of making shadowbox banks which would like to share with some of my students who needs such kind of shadowbox banks and are usually come to seek help on how to structure Quality help with finance assignment UK properly and how to use the correct format form me at our consultancy Quality Assignment UK where I am currently working as an academic writer and providing excellent help for writing assignment on different subject such as marketing, business, finance, nursing, human resource to UK students at best price. I am also sharing this awesome idea to more people at our consultancy. Keep sharing.

I love the idea but aren't you a little concerned about their reaction on Christmas morning? It's great parenting to make them save up their money for something they want, but my concern would be when they open it, see the picture of the iPod and then the realization that it's not what they expected. I want my children to be responsible with money and to be realistic about expectations for Christmas (there's no way we could afford 3 either!), but at the same time I want them to have positive experiences on Christmas.

It teaches kids to appreciate what they do get for Christmas. That's the problem. We've lost sight anout what Christmas is actually about. It's not about the presents and if kids can't appreciate the things the things they do have/get do they really deserve anything at all?

Dj, I thought about that. However, I'm pretty sure they realize that it's very unlikely that they'll actually be getting an iPod on Christmas. They know that Santa only has a certain amount to spend and they've been saving some money in little containers already. I figure these banks will just be giving them a specific spot to save in. Plus, if they get any $ for Christmas from relatives, it can go right in their new bank if they choose.

Do you think coins would break the glass? I'm interested in doing this for our "Tahiti Fund" with a gorgeous picture of the beach in the back...but most of what we put in is spare coins and I'm afraid it would break the front.

Hi Laura,I'm making one of these for my little sister (16th birthday - car fund!). I was just wondering if your frame only had the foam back, or if there was also a thicker, more solid one? On my frame, there is a thick, wood-like back that the foam is attached to (all of the hooks and metal clasps to lock the frame are on the thick back). Just wanted to know your thoughts on what to do with it? Maybe leave it off, cut through the foam, and give the thicker back to her with the gift in case she wants to re-use it? Anyone else run into this?

The frames I bought only had the foam back and it's holding up fine. I would probably use just the foam on yours as well. If it's attached to the wood, you could just cut another piece of foam board to fit.

What we did was as it the bank filled up (especially with their folded up $1 bills), I had the kids count out their $$ and we deposited that in the real bank. It would be about $70 or so and they wrote the amount on a slip of paper that they put back in the shadowbox bank. It was helpful because they could see how much they'd saved so far, we didn't have too much cash in the house, and they earned a few pennies in interest once they deposited their savings to date.

I see that this is an older post so I am sorry I am so late to jump on the band wagon.lol, I love this idea. I am going to try this but see if I can put a hole in the top on the frame to slip the money in so maybe I can hang it and keep it up when they put their money in. Well once I get some shadow boxes we will see how it works out. :) love your blog

Definitely give it a try. My original intention was to put a hole in the top, but the shadowboxes I got had a metal frame and I'd need tools that I don't have to cut through it. I'm sure if you found wooden frames you could do it fairly easily!

One of my Girl Scout suggested we do this as a troop to have the girls save for a trip to Savannah in 2 years. We will do lots of fund raising for the trip the girls will make theses at a meeting soon to start saving their spending money since the troop will not provide any extra for extras.

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